According to Gutkind, creative nonfiction narratives “are dramatic, true stories that use scene, dialogue and
close, detailed descriptions—techniques usually employed by poets and fiction writers—to examine and explore
a variety of subjects: politics, economics, sports, race relations, family relations, the arts and sciences and more.
Lee Gutkind is the founding editor of Creative Nonfiction and prize-winning author or editor of more than a
dozen books. His most recent work, Almost Human: Making Robots Think, was featured on The Daily Show with
Jon Stewart. Harper’s Magazine calls Gutkind “the founder of the creative nonfiction movement.
According to Vanity Fair, he is “the godfather behind creative nonfiction.” Gutkind travels widely
throughout the world giving workshops and readings, explaining the craft and the mission of
the genre.

Along with Gutkind, FIW 2009 will offer helpful workshops with more than a dozen Panhandlearea nonfiction authors participating. These include Mark Williams, an award-winning outdoor
writer with more than a dozen books and 100s of newspaper and magazine articles to his credit.
Williams, who may be the most successful “book pitcher” in the Panhandle, will share some of his
secrets. Also, Jon Mark Beilue, once an award-winning sports writer and now Amarillo’s favorite
general columnist, will speak. Beilue will talk about how writers find their stories.

In addition, authors, columnists and college teachers, David Horsley and Mike Bellah will talk about writing and
selling the personal essay. Joining them will be lifelong newspaperman and author of full-length novels and
nonfiction books, Don Williams, who will show how to use simile and metaphor to give life to one’s writing.
Mark Williams wife, Amy, is a writer in her own right,
and will talk about writing and marketing her work,
including a new book entitled 1001 Girlfriend Getaways
Around the World. Long-time PPW member and awardwinning novelist Dewanna Pace has entitled her workshop
“Avoiding Rejection: A Novel Approach.” And Linda
Rohrbough, who has over 5,000 articles and seven books
to her credit, will travel from her home in North Carolina
to talk about successfully pitching one’s work to an agent
or editor. Linda’s unique approach teaches participants
how to come up with a “second logline” that focuses on the
more emotional elements in their plot.

Creative nonfiction heightens the whole
“ concept
and idea of essay writing. It allows
a writer to employ the diligence of a reporter,
the shifting voices and viewpoints of a
novelist, the refined wordplay of a poet and
the analytical modes of the essayist.

”

—Lee Gutkind

There’s more. Amarillo singer-musicians Tennessee Tuckness, Gary Wayne Thomason, Chad McPhail and Randy
Palmer will talk about writing song lyrics. Mark Williams will be back for a second workshop, bringing along
some of his students from North Heights Alternative School to talk about their recently published book of
essays. And Jenna Hodges, local poet and youth mentor, and Raul Rodarte, international poet and performer,
will introduce their workshop participants to Slam Poetry.

{ p ublishers/editors }

schedule & Registration

Participants in FIW 2009 will have the opportunity to pitch their book proposals, nonfiction or fiction, to
one of two publishers.
Dan Case is the owner of AWOC.COM Publishing and is the editor of their
flagship publication, Writing for DOLLARS! He is the co-author of The
Complete Guide to Writing and Selling Magazine Articles and author of numerous
articles and essays. His cartoons have appeared in books, magazines,
newsletters and in syndication both online and in newspapers. AWOC.COM
published 15 books in 2008 and expects to publish as many as 20 in 2009.

Time/Room

Oak

Badger Den

The Neubauers say they are equally committed to finding and nurturing the first-time
author. “At WordWright we’re an author incubator and we help new authors understand the
world of publishing. We teach and help you along the way so you can achieve your dream
of publication. We actively work with our authors to help promote them and their books by
securing book signings and presentations.”

Registration in the Commons

1:00 pm

Mark Williams

Linda Rohrbough

2:00 pm

Jon Mark Beilue

Dr. Mike Bellah
and David Horsley

Dr. Donald Mace
Williams

Steve Neubauer, Joan Neubauer,
Dan Case

3:00 pm

Mark and Amy Williams

Chad McPhail

Amarillo Uptown

Steve Neubauer, Joan Neubauer,
Dan Case

4:00 pm

BREAK

5:30 pm

Book Signing in the Commons
Conference Banquet and Contest Awards with catering by The Golden Apple, entertainment
by our conference songsters and Keynote Address by Lee Gutkind

6:30–8:30 pm

Sat u r day, Ju n e 6, 2009
8:30 am

Registration in the Commons

9:00 am

Lee Gutkind in the Oak Room

10:00 am

Jenna Hodges, Raul
Rodarte and friends

Dr. Donald Mace
Williams

Jon Mark Beilue

Steve Neubauer, Joan Neubauer,
Dan Case

11:00 am

Tennessee Tuckness, Gary
Wayne Thomason, Chad
McPhail & Randy Palmer

Dewanna Pace

Joan Neubauer

Steve Neubauer, Joan Neubauer,
Dan Case

steve neubauer
12 Noon

Barbeque Lunch, Dyers

If you write fiction, don’t think this conference is not for
“you.
All the elements required for effective nonfiction—

1:00 pm

Lee Gutkind in the Oak Room

things like vivid description and a coherent and suspenseful
storyline—also make for a successful novel.

Joan and Steve Neubauer own and operate WordWright.biz, Inc., a publishing
house in Alpine, Texas. WordWright has authors based in the U.S. and the
dan case
joan neubauer
United Kingdom. They publish most genres of fiction and non-fiction of
interest to general readers. “We focus on the author not the genre of the book,” says Steve.
“We look for energetic, curious authors who want to learn about how to create a wonderful
book, promote it, and sell it.”

Holiday Inn
1911 I-40 East, Amarillo, TX 79102
806-372-8741
Call before May 26 and mention FIW, and you will receive a
special rate of $89 per night. Or go to www.AmarilloHI.com
and click on the FIW button.

cost

Conference fee:
PPW members

$85.00

Non members add

$30.00

Friday banquet

$22.00

Saturday lunch

$12.00

your cost

TOTAL

Do you want to meet privately
to “pitch” a publisher?
Give us your preference for
publishers (rate: 1, 2 and 3)

Joan
Neubauer

No
Steve
Neubauer

Enclose this form and personal check or money order
(unless using credit card)
and return to this address:
Panhandle Professional Writers, P.O. Box 19303, Amarillo, TX 79114